December 2025 Papoose Article

The Yacht Club had a great 2025 Season both on the water and on shore. We held all three of our special Regattas: The Gabor Cup, The Marine Base and the Commodore’s Cup Regattas that are open to all LMCC members and scored with the Portsmouth Handicap System. The LMYC also ran some 18 handicap fleet races coordinated by Race Committee Chair Bob McNamara, as well as additional separate races for Lasers and Sunfish. The Junior Sailing Program, headed by Kristina Genovese and assisted by McKaela and Shealyn Reekie, was full to capacity. The students and parents had high praise for the instructors, and most want to take the program again next year.

On shore the LMYC held several parties including the Fireworks Picnic Party at the Yacht Club, honchoed by Jon Hirschey, and the Margaritaville Night Party at the Tiki Bar, organized by Kristina, the End of Season Party at Carol and Toby Hilgendorffs’, as well as Spring and Fall Cleanups and dock repair parties, along with a few spontaneous grilled cheese ‘incidents.’ We have lots of pictures of our activities on our website: lakemohawksailing.org, which is so ably maintained by our chief photographer, Ian Oldridge.

Rear Commodore, Docks and Grounds, Jon Hirschey organized and led the Fall Cleanup on October 25th at the Yacht Club. Over 34 members participated in a very productive session, which included lots of grounds work, raking and bagging leaves, weed whacking and trimming the Forsythia. We even cut down a small tree that had invaded our beloved Forsythia near the LMYC sign. John Trela honchoed stacking the floating docks on shore with the help of Toby Hilgendorff, Dmitry Kersh and several others. The Sunfish were moved into the Buoy Room pavilion with the help of Alex Fox and his Sunfish caddy, many hands of LMYC members and directions from Perry Anderson. The Buoy Room, under the direction of Birgit Bogler, was packed up for winter and the Kayak Rack was moved closer to the shore.

The Yacht Club’s Annual Meeting was held the next day October 26th at the home of Toby and Carol, with a very large attendance of LMYC members. Each Officer gave a report, with Treasurer Perry Anderson reporting that the Club was in good financial condition after a successful Junior Sailing Program and the highly successful Margaritaville Night Party. After the Officers’ reports, four special awards were presented: Crew of the Year to Carol Fishbone, Most Improved Skipper to Toby Hilgendorff, The Ed Syracuse Sportsmanship Award to Jon Hirschey, and The John Marx Service Award to John Trela. The Awards were very well earned and well received. The Awardees also received wine carriers made out of used sails as “keepers.” Toby and Carol procured the wine carriers in Maine by trading some used Club sails in exchange for various bags made from other reclaimed sails. Included here are pictures of Carol with her Crew of the Year Trophy presented by Gail Miner, who had been a previous winner, and Toby with his Trophy, presented by John Trela, and Toby’s wine carrier.

Next, the Club members elected a slate of Officers for the 2026 Season with John Trela as Commodore, Rich Miner as Vice Commodore, Jon Hirschey as Rear Commodore, Kristina Genovese as Secretary, Perry Anderson as Treasurer, Gail Miner as Lightning Fleet Captain, Peter Roos as Snipe Fleet Captain and Alex Fox as Sunfish/Laser Fleet Captain, as well as a full slate of Trustees.

After the Annual Meeting, The End of Season Party got into full swing with many Club members enjoying each other’s company and the large number of shared dishes and desserts, including lemon chicken, pasta, shrimp, carrot cake and apple pie, and a marshmallow roast outside. People were having so much fun that they didn’t want the party to end. We’re all looking forward to another great year in 2026.

Remembering our long-time Papoose contributor Don Okner, I’ll end with SMOOTH SAILING and GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Commodore Rich Miner